083 Truly at the Mercy of Fate
Bowing to Mu Qing's insistence, Mu Jingchi returned home with Mu Qingcheng. Although the standard of this hospital was far from sufficient to cure Mu Qing's persistent illness, for the time being, there would not be any serious problems. Now that Mu Qing had awakened and seemed to be gradually recovering, Mu Qingcheng considered the situation and decided it was best to return home for now and plan her next move. After all, there was another pressing matter that demanded her attention.
A fleeting exchange of glances between Mu Qing and Mu Qingcheng did not escape Mu Jingchi’s keen perception. However, the time was not yet ripe, so he chose not to speak of it. Thus, the two left the hospital together.
Yet, just as they stepped out the hospital doors, a shadowy figure appeared from the other side, furtively following the path they had taken and swiftly heading upstairs. Soon after, this person received news that was nothing short of a “surprise.”
...
Upon returning to the Mu residence, Mu Jingchi did not leave immediately. Instead, he insisted that Mu Qingcheng stay and have lunch. The young girl’s listless demeanor was heart-wrenching. Suddenly, Mu Jingchi reached over and touched her forehead; his expression darkened.
“Qingcheng, you have a fever.”
“Do I?” Mu Qingcheng absently touched her cheek, only then realizing why she had felt cold all morning. ‘It must be from soaking in the lake before,’ she thought.
Understanding the cause of her chills, she shrugged indifferently, the corners of her pale lips curving in a feeble arc. “It’s nothing. I’ll take some medicine and be fine. Third Brother, you should go—aren’t there still many things at the company?”
“There’s no rush. I’ll leave after you’ve gone to sleep.” For once, Mu Jingchi’s manner was serious, setting aside his usual laziness and nonchalance. Caught off guard, Mu Qingcheng could not refuse. After a pause, she lowered her head and continued eating.
When she finally rose to her feet, the weakness she felt began to overtake her senses. At the foot of the stairs, just as she was about to go up, a strong arm suddenly encircled her waist, and someone drew close in haste.
“No, Third Brother, I can walk myself!” As Mu Jingchi tried to lift her in his arms, she gripped the banister with all her strength and leaned away, avoiding his further touch.
“Qingcheng, you...” Mu Jingchi’s gesture fell flat, his hands awkwardly suspended in the air, unsure what to do. He looked at her, caught off guard and helpless.
“Thank you, Brother. I’m fine,” Mu Qingcheng said, offering him a faint smile before turning away and heading upstairs. She had only taken a few steps when she heard Mu Jingchi sigh heavily behind her, his voice filled with resignation.
“Qingcheng, do you blame me for not taking good care of Mu Qing?”
“...”
“In families like ours, many things...”
“Are out of our control, is that it?” Mu Qingcheng stopped, slowly turning to face him. From the landing above, she looked down at Mu Jingchi. Her pale lips were drawn in a cold arc, and her eyes, severe and distant, took him by surprise. In that moment, he felt as though he were seeing another side of Mu Qingcheng—aloof and unapproachable. For the first time, she seemed utterly beyond his reach.
Hand gripping the banister, Mu Qingcheng faced the speechless Mu Jingchi. For the first time, she could not contain the anger in her heart. She spoke each word with a low, trembling fury:
“Do you know what it truly means to be out of control? It’s to be utterly helpless after risking everything. It’s to exhaust your heart and soul, yet still be powerless to change the outcome. It’s to throw your worthless life on the line, only to find you still cannot win back what you love. To have your fate in your own hands, yet be unable to command it—this is what it means to be out of control. When have any of you ever understood that?!”
“...Qing...”
“Mu Jingchi, don’t make me hate you!”
...